Zendaya Delivers Acceptance Speech at the GLSEN Respect Awards

If it wasn't already crystal-clear that Zendaya is a total role model, she recently received an award that highlights just how inspirational she actually is.

The actress and singer was the recipient of the Gamechanger Award at the GLSEN Respect Awards on Friday, October 20 in Los Angeles. The award ceremony, which began in 2004, is designed to honor people who have made an impact on LGBTQ youth. For the uninitiated, GLSEN is an organization dedicated to ensuring a safer school experience for LGBTQ students, working with both teachers and students to improve education and reduce bullying.

Zendaya appeared at the ceremony to accept her award, along with an array of other celebs including Tommy Dorfman, Milo Ventimiglia, Billie Lourd, and Chyler Leigh. During her acceptance speech, Zendaya explained that this particular award means a lot to her, because she is passionate about young people having a place to speak out and use their voices.

She went on to talk more about the importance of using her own voice, saying, "I would much rather be known for the content of my character and the kind of person that I am, than the last project that I did." Zendaya added that she was happy to be surrounded by like-minded people, explaining: "To know your purpose and to know who you are at such a young age is hard and it's difficult. I'm lucky to be around people like this, who have found that within themselves and continue to live that truth every day."

The actress continued by describing what she thinks is her own purpose: "I have this platform that I'm standing on, and sometimes when you get there, you realize that your purpose is not to stand on it anymore, but to get off and let somebody else stand on it." To exemplify this, she explained that her award isn't really just for herself, but for all of the people out there within her generation. "We are the gamechangers," she said, "we are the ones literally changing the game."

Zendaya ended her speech with an important request to anyone listening: "Please understand the power of your voice. Please understand that you have the capacity to literally change the world.... Let's continue to make some change and change the game." We couldn't have said it better ourselves, Zendaya.